Chocolate-Cherry Angel Food Cake

A thick drizzle of chocolate sauce kicks this ethereal cake up one yummy notch.

My photo of this delicious cake looks pitiful. Maybe the cold weather gave me I really don't care attitude. But after my first bite, I regretted that I didn't put effort into the presentation and photography. This cake tastes divine with the hint of cherries and chocolate in the batter. And the chocolate sauce, although it tasted yummy, it should have been thinned down a bit more.

People, learn from my mistakes.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1-1/2 cups (about 12) egg whites, room temperature
1-1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup well-drained, chopped maraschino cherries
1 ounce grated semisweet chocolate

Directions:
1. Place oven rack at lowest position. Heat oven to 375 degrees. In small bowl, combine flour and 3/4 cup sugar.

2. In large bowl, combine egg whites, cream of tartar, salt, vanilla and almond extract, beat until mixture forms soft peaks. Gradually add 3/4 cup sugar, beat at high speed until stiff peaks form. spoon flour-sugar mixture 1/4 cup at a time over beaten egg whites, gently fold in just until blended.

3. Fold 1/3 cup maraschino cherries and 1 ounce of chocolate into batter. Pour batter into ungreased 10-inch tube pan. With knife, cut gently through batter to remove large air bubbles.

4. Bake at 375 degrees on lowest oven rack for 30 to 40 minutes or until crust is golden brown and crack are very dry. Immediately invert cake onto funnel or soft drink bottle; let hand 1 hour or until completely cooled. Remove cake from pan, run edge of knife around outer edge of pan and tube.

5. To make sauce, in small saucepan over low heat, melt 2 tablespoons margarine or butter and 1 ounce semisweet chocolate with 1 tablespoon corn syrup. Stir in 1 cup powdered sugar and 2 to 3 tablespoons maraschino cherry liquid until smooth and of desire drizzling consistency. Immediately drizzle over cooled cake.